Machine for rendering soles flexible.



G. BASLER, MACHINE EoR RENDERING SOLES ELEXNNE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I4, 19,'4. 4 w 1,175,680. Pumld Mju; 14, 1m-M y Ogg@ E en M i@ f I G. BASLER.

MACHINE FOR RENDERING SOLES FLEXIBLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I4, 1914. 1,175,680.

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. BASLER.

MACHINE FOR RENDERING SOLES FLEXIBLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I4, 1914. 1,175,680. Patent-.ed 1131.111916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

.zwar/Mav @y BASLEH. MACHINE FOR RENDERING SOLES FLEXIBLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I4. I9I4. b 1,175,680. Patented Mar. 14, 1,)16.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4. VM" a E /'f 21? L l 7 L r v `I 55 f. mmmu If I II MBZW* l I" 4l l ,//g IIIIIIIIIIIWIIIIIIIILI IIIIIILIIIII M lll ml I I I' I I wn u. Iwmm'ilw'w"""f A;

` I E r I :u 1 m L G. BASLER.

MACHINE Fon RENDEmNG s oLEs FLEXIBLE.

APPLICATION fILED AUG.14, 19H. i

Patented Mar. 14, 1916.

#aaa-wwf representing like tap. the ease 35 grain side. of

.4) engagement bet bending UNITED PAEENT OFFICE.

GEORGE BASLER. GF LYNN. MASSACHUSETTS.

MASSACHUSETTS. A CORPORATION 0F MAINE.

COMPANY, 0F LYNN.

MACHINE FOB RENDERING ASSIGNB` TO BASLER MACHINERY SOLES FLEXBLE.

application ied August i4.

5 chusetts. have invented an improvement in Machines for lien-.lering Soles Flexible. of which the following description. in connection with the accompanying drawings. is a specification. like ieiter.` on the drawings parts.

In the manufacture of shoes there has recently been apronounced tendency to require extreme flexibility of the sole. and I have discovered that by plaeing the sole. in-sole. or

may be. between tivo Sinlilarly moving surfaces. as for instance. two belts. and then fiexing the sole while still Iretained b v and moving with said belts or surfaces over a small roll for instance.

whereby the leather i-l extremely flexed in at least one direction. and preferably also in a reverse direction. the tend ncy and liability of injuring the leather. as by stretching. creasing. etc.. which has attended the {ie}Y soles by' frictiontheni around and in engagement with a bar or the. like. is eliminated. and 1 have further found that this fiexing. softening and pliability is still `further inally bending creased. to a remarkable degree bjeaccoinplishing the bending as aforesaid in the pre-ence oi' water or other tempering liquid. These tivo features viz.. first. applying a tempering liquid to one side. preferablyY the the leather just it is about to be put through the bending process. and second, accomplishing the bending of the ieather. not in sliding engagementwith anything. but rather kept in non-sliding neen t\vo surfaces while the. and softening process is taking lace. produce an cxtreme and permanent exibilitj.' and softening of the le-.itherwithout any tendcncv to stretch. strain. crease 46 or yotherwise injure the natural fiber and quafity of' the leather. Also by bending the moistenetl and tempered surfa oi the leather lan'kward.r so as to pia t it under tension suiiicient to opi-ii the pire.- end later 50 restoring it to its ncrmai. piane wndition.

Speccaton of Letters Patent.

aiented )Iar.14. 1916.

Serial N0. 659.733. flied November 11. 1911. This 1914. Serial No. 856.803.

the tempered surface i.- opened and stretched and a relative playi or give of the fibrous` texture brought about. so that it be-i1 come-.- much more pliable and more suitable for shoe maiuifacture.

M v invention provides an improved apparatus for effecting these operations in this preferred illustrative manner and sequence. but to the broader aspects of the invention, the particular sequence of operations, or the specific manner in which they are performed. is not material.

The present application is a continuation in part of my prior application. Serial No. (359.7139. filed November 11. 1911. being copending with my iPatent No. 1.036.061, dated August 20. 191:2. and filed March 15. 1912. wherein the combination of fiexing and stretching means such as a pair of belts. together with tempering means, is claimed. 1n the present application. the combination of any simultaneously operating sole fiexing and moistening means is claimed. together ivith simultaneously operating. bending, Conveying. and tempering means for soles or leather. Preferably. the conveying devices are also the fi'exing or bending means, as illustrated in -improved machine constituting tlie modified form shown in the present application, such conveying and bending instrumentalities undulating the leather while the tempering solution is applied thereto at one oi-niore points in the machine.

Although l find that it is usually suiiicient to first apply tempering liquid to a sole andthen to subject the sole to the bending or fiexing operation, l find Ythat it is also desirable to again subject the sole to a tem- )ering bath, and accordingly. l have illustrated in one *imm of. the invention, a machine liaving a plurality of moisture-applying tanks. I vmay pass the soleover or througlrone tempering tank. then through tbe breaking or iicxing and 'bending'operation. and then again .through a second tempering tank. although 1 prefer to also providebending or opening devices in tank. so that. as the sole is receiving its tempering treatment. it willA also be suljected to a transverse bending or working tto facilitate its absrrptirn of' the tempering liouid. The first applicatitn of the tempering liquid tends to permeate the grain surface ot' the leather. and prevent its cracking when it is put through the breaking tr flexing operation` and the secend applicatien of the tempering liquid after the Vstle is thus flexed more quickly and fully permeates the steek. so as to insure permanent flexibility. Furthermore. by having a plurality of tempering stations a sole can be fed by or through more quickly, and still receive an ample treatment).

still further feature in the form of machine. comprising a plurality of tempering prints. is that I can arrange for a circulation of the tempering solution. thus keepillg the tempering seluirn in agitatien. so that it will always be in proper condition and the ingredients thoroughly mixed.

(lther advantages and features of the medified form are that an "adjustment of the height of the liipiid is arranged to give the desired amount of tempering. that the eenveying. and breakingT belts are kept free of the srluti n while the sele is fed in the temperingr tanks by (ther means. and that all surplus temperingr liquid prsitively removed frein the sole before it leaves the machine. so that the s `le or leather can be imtantlv handled. and there is no dripping "'f the selutii n fr m the sole. er (ther waste.

(ltlier features of the invention` details of construction. and novel combipations 0f parts will be hereinaffeixmore fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings. Figure 1 longitudinal vertical section through the apparatus: Fig. L) is a plan view thereof: Fig. il is a transverse vertical section through the dei ice for applying tempering liquid at right angles to Fig. l: and Fig. l is a detail elei'ation of the pipe which supplies the li'iuid. Figa leef are derived from my application Serial No. (339.739 before mentione'l. A\ modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 5 to 9. wherein Fig. 5 is a side view of my machine with the tempering stations` the supply reservoir being partly shown in cross section: Fig. f3 is a plan \ie\v of the machine: Fig. T is a cross sectional view through the tempering tanks; Fig. 8 an end view; and Fig. Sl is a fhar'ammatic iew of the gearing' to rotate the \arious feeding rolls within the tanks.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown` the soles or other pieces of stock to be treated are fed through the machine by two cooperating belts 10. 11. which also grip the soles between them for the fiexing operation. These two belts are mounted on a system of rollers carried by a suitable, horizontally extending frame 12 and held is a taut by suitable tension devices. The belts, which may be of leather or other suitable material. are of a suitable width. and, at the receiving end of the machine shown at the left in Fig.- l. have portions arranged in substantial parallelism or slightly converging to leave between them a receiving throat 13 of a width adapted to receive and engage the soles inserted therein. The belts which` at the receiving end of the machine` are passed around rollers 14. l5, extend along in substantial parallelism some distance to form the receiving throat to the opposite rollers 1G. 1T and the belt 11 is then bent downward about the roller 1T around spaced apart rollers 1S. lf) on the lower part of the frame and up around roller 20 to leave a space for the liquid supply for tempering the soles. From between the rollers lo. 1T the belts advance the soles along over a guide plate 2l to pass over the top of a piece of felt or the like 2i?, which is kept constantly saturated with water or other suitable tempering fluid from a supply pipe 23 having a series of openings 24 in the top thereof. As seen in Fig. l. the openings 2t are of progressively increasing` size from the inlet end of the pipe to make up for the decreasing pressure. The upper belt 1U extends along closely over the top of felt pad 22 so that the soles are uniformly and evenly pressed thereby against the sa urated surface of the felt and thus an even, definite moistening thereof is effected. The felt pad 22 may be mounted in a suitable holder :25 in a receptacle 2G adapted to catch the surplus water.y The roller 2f) is mounted liust beyond the pad 22 in position so that both the beltsl l() and l are pressed there against and as the belt l1 extends upward to join the belt l() at this point. a receiving mouth :2T provided in which the sole is caught after passing the moistening pad. Them-e the two belts togctler. and both field taut. pass around roller :3b. which is of relatively small radius. in engagement with substantiallyv one-half the cireuniferetufe thereof. so that the sides of the soles just moistened are bent outward and flexed so as to open and stretch the same. while held closely embraced at all parts on both sides by the belts, so that creasing or humping up of the leather is prevented. Thenee the belts are passed with a reverse bend around roller 25) whereby the other sides of the solesV are flexed and lent outward. still being heid strongly embraced at both sides by the belts. Thenee the belts extend in diverging relation around their respective rollers 3f), i?.

at the rear reaches thereof. The roller llt) of the belt l0 is shown mounted in blocks yieldingly pressed outward to hold thel belt taut by springs the tension of which may be varied by adjustable backings 34. Thence llt the belt 10 passes" over guide roller 35 and under guide, roller 36,' the latter being mounted. in bearing blocksj37 adjustable in slots 38 by means of screw bolts 39 threaded in the frame sp ,as to enable a positive adjustment of the'belt tension. Thcnce the belt,i0 passes at the receiving end of the machine aro'und roller 14 which is mounted .in bearing blocks 40 adjustable similarly to the blocks 3f( to vary the width of the receiving throatl. The belt 11 from roller 31 passes downward. around a roller 41 mounted in adjustable bearing blocks 42 similarly to the roller 36 to positively adjust the tension of this belt. Thence it passes around guide rollers 43 and 44 back to roller l15, which is mounted in bearing blocks 45 pressed outward under a variable -spring tension similarly to the block 32, so that the tension on this belt, as well as that on the belt 10, may always be maintained practically uniform. The supply of water to the action of the pipe 23 may be regulated by a suitable'valve 46 and the accumulated surplus water-may beidrawn olf from the tank 26 by a suitable valve cock 47. vIn Fig. 1 ay sole 48 of average 'length is illustrated in the machine.

I consider the special arrangement of the moistening means relative to the flexing means to e an important feature of invention, since Ihavevdiscovered that when the leather is moistened just before the mechanical flexing, this opening and stretching-by the bending' and working of the leather is better performed and less liable to result in creasing and humping up the leather, and with the coperation of the belts ressing strongly upon theleather at both sides this 'creasing distortion is practically eliminated.

'I have found further that the flexing and working of the soles immediately after they are Inoistened results in a greater permanent flexibility of the stock than would otherwise follow. It is also to be noted that in the operation of the apparatus the even distribution the water, or, tempering solution over the surface of the soles is insured in the maximlumquantity that the soles are capable of absorbing, not only by reason of the continuops pressure supply andv the elt pad in spreading the same,

art whereby greater speed and efficiency' are secured and a better product turned out. it will be noted that instead of one nioistening device I have provided a plurality, and instead of applying the softening and moisterr ing fluid at one point, I apply it throughout the full extent of the sole, and instead of applying it on one side only, vI apply it on both sides, preferably by actually immersing the sole. l"urthermore, I do not stop with simply applying the fluid, but I work the fluid into the sole by a more or less rapid agitation of the sole, preferably by slightly bending the sole rapidly back and forth so as thereby to open the pores of the sole on its opposite sides while it is receiving the moisture. Preferably and as herein shown, this preliminary opening and tempering or initial preparation of the sole is accomplished by passing the sole through an upper tank between positively driven feeding and moisture-applying devices. rl`he sole lis then automatically treated to the bending and flexing or breaking process, the same as in the more simple form of my machine previously described. one simple embodiment of the belt carrier form of flexing and breaking mechanism being shown, which if desired may be precisely the same as already described in connection with Fig. 1. Preferably the sole. or other piece of leatheif, passes automatically from its sharp bending or breaking operation to a further moistening treatment herein shown as provided by a tank containing means somewhat similar to that contained in the upper tank. The provision of a plurality of moistening stations with an intervening flexing and breaking mechanism permits much greater speed because of the thoroughness and facility with which the wetting and bending takes place, and permits the soles to be fed rapidly, abutting each other. Preferably also I provide means at the outgoing end of the machine for removing the surplus solution from the soles, and also I provide a special circulation system and means for keeping the mixture in constant agitation.

I have indicated an upper tank 49 and a lower tank 50 mounted in a stand or frame 5l which also contains a reservoir 52 from which leads a supply pipe 53 provided with a pump 54 for delivering the solution at the upper end 55 of the pump into the upper tank, whence the fluid flows by overflow pipes 56, 57 into the lower tank 50 and thence by another overflow pipe 58 into the supply tank 5'2 through an opening 59. A sole 60 is indicated in Fig. 7, as about to enter the machine, and aneth =r sole 61 is shown already in the machine. These soles pass between pairs of moisture-applying rolls of felt or other suitable material and conguide 8l and feed/wheels S5.

struction and in connection preferably with feeding wheels or similar devices arranged to operate on the flesh side of thevstoek herev in Shown* as the upper side (sc as not to scratch :r injure the grain side). iii shown. I have provided a felt roll 62 and an opposite corrugated feeding roll G3 for delivering the sole on to a guide plate 64 and beneath feeding wheels ('ii and thence to a pair pt' feltrolls 66. G7 and thence to a series of felt rolls alternating with upper feed wheels and an under felt roll and lettered for eenveiiiene of designation as "i9,

iso. To. Ti. T2, T8 74. 75. To. 7T. 7S; T9. so. :41. 8;. and 82%. lne of these` the 'roll 79.

is hard. prefeiably metal. or wood. to give greater squeezing pressure 'at this point and :ii-t to iron ont the flesh side. .\t the, delivery ond ot' the tank isl a feed apron or or webs` are indicated at SG. Si' and the sole flexing Vor bending and breaking rollers 'at SS. S9 corresponding to the rollers 28. 2.. It will be understood that I do not use the word braking to indicate a cracking.'asV

itis the express object of my invention 'to avoid the liability of cracking the leather.

As here-- The two belts more simple form of apparatus of Figs.`

1,-4. From the outgoing end of the flexing belts Sti. Si" the sole is delivered to a guide :plate or reeeiving apron 90 down which it able material arranged in staggered order,

so as to continue the opening and softening process in very mueh the saine manner as previously performed iii the iippQ/r tank. these rollers being indicated by the nunierals 92. 93. 91. Elfi. 9G. 9T. 99. 99. 100. 101` loi. loa. lolr` io. ion. io?. los and 109. Froin the rollers '10N and 109 tlie'SteC-k is delivered to an upwardly extending guide plate 11() beneath a.roll lll to a pair of squeezing rollers 112.113. which operate on the sole above the surface of the. solution so'as to remove surplus moisture but not to sueh an extent as to dry the soles. The various rolls and feeding'deviees are i'nade yielding to accommodate different thicknesses of stock and for adjustment to suit tempering conditions and for this purpose I have indicated adjusting devices 114 and springs 115 for the various pairs of leather engaging devices. Any suitable driving mechanism may be employed and it'will be understood that I have not undertaken to show the same in finished detail. but have indicated a main driving shaft 11G provided with usualfast and loose pulleys 11?` 11S and a train of gears 119. 120. 121. 12;. 123. 124, 12e. i-z. 12s. ies). iz-io. are.. as indicated diagramniatically in Fig. il for posi- '70` tively driving the rolls and feeding devices and gears 131. see Fig. 5. lil-2. 1152i. 12H. 1:35, 13G. 137, '13S and 12W-for driving the breaker rollers or flexing devices Ss. Si). the pump 54 being shown as driven b v the belt HG 75 .of the liquid in the uppertank shall be regulated. and for this purpose 1 have shown the pipe 5T as capable of being ad jus-ted up and down by a nut 144. v

ln use one sole tit) is fed `nto the npper tank right after another iii elose sneeession J abutting against eaeh other. and as rapidly :is the operator ean feed 'them and the rolls ean take rare of them. eaeh soleentering between tht` first pair ot' rollers (i2. G3 and being thence fed through the upper tank as shown in Fig. i'. in the` midst ,of the softening solution whieli is caused to perineate the poresof the leather to a' high degree by the gentle bending or working of-the leather up Aand down on both sides as it passes` through theliquid and under the pressing yand soaking iniluenee of thcsuecessive iiioistiire-'providing rollers. vThis is laccomplished quekly and thoroughly and the sole out most ot' the surplus moisture on to the guide plate S4 and quickly passes down to bending motion onee each way only, 6.105

each sole is bent sharply and progressively along its skin surface in such a direction'as to plaee the latter under tension or opening strain. and is then. andpreferably simultaneously. bent sharply and progres 11i) sively along its flesh surface in such a direction as to plaee theV latter under tension orv opening strain. and then proceeds immedif ately. while thus sti-etchedopen and softened in the highest degreii. to the lower tank where it is again treated to astill further and more thorough kiieading or gentle bending up and d own in the presence of the' moistening fluid on'both sides andby means ot' the rolls lor other devices for forcing and 120 working the moisture into the pores to the best advantage, until finally the 'sole at the outgoing end of the tank is drained and gently freed ot-ils surplusinoisture. so that it will not dripor waste the solution. but,

vet will retain a maximum softness :uid pernieating load of moisture. The treatment :n the upper tank or inoiste'ning station ren Iis then ser/.ed by the belts S6. Si draining 100 ders the sole as soft and moist as it is possible to render it without the sharp tiexing. and then this thoroughly softened sole is immediately subjected to a progressive U- bend which opens up its grain side with the peculiar pulling stretching and working movement already described and simultaneously subjects the flesh side to a similar sharp U-bend progressively from end to end of thesole. these two U-bends being sulficiently close to each other to maintain the sole bent sharply like a letter S, as it is fed forward so that the leather is mechanically softened and the moisture is caused to enter still deeper and permeate the leather more thoroughly. and then with the leather in this mechanically softened and manipulated state. the sole is instantly plunged into the second tank and worked thoroughly by the kneading operation of the felt rolls before the leather has had a chance to contract or lose any of the benefit ot' the S-hending referred to. The depth of the liquid, and hence to some extent the moisture-applying conditions of the upper tank, is regulated by moving one or both of the overflow pipes 5G. 5T vertically. as by 'adjusting the pipe 5T b v means of the nut 1H.

As already stated. my invention, both in its more simple form of Figs. l-i and in the more completafform of Figs. 5-9, is capable of a wide variety of mechanical embodiments, and accordingly I do not limit the same to the details herein set forth, excepting as otherwise required in the claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a conveyer system. and a member having a surface formed as, an arc of aV small radius over which a poltion of the conveyer system is guided.'the convever sys teni presenting smooth, substantially continuous surfaces to press evenly upon all portions of both sides of the articles being treated as they are bent. and having provision for being drawn over said member in a taut condition with a change of' direction.

An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a pair of movable belt portions mounted to pass around a support formed on an arc of small radius with onel belt over the other. and means tor holding said belts taut, the parts being arranged to permit articles of the kind described to be fed in between said belts to be fiexed about said arc ot' small radins.

3. An apparatus of the kind described, comprising a pair of belts having relatively Small roller mountings arranged for both belts to pass around each of said mountings with one belt over the other together in reverse directions successively so that they are bent about arcs of small radii. and means for holding the belt` faut. the belts being adapted to engage and grip between them irticles ot the kind described. and to'tiex the same about said roller mountings.

l. A sole tlexing machine. ha ving. in combination. two endless belts having a portion of `their surfaces in contact and adapted to support a sole between them. means for advancing said belts and sole. and a series of rolls cooperating with the contacting por tion of the belts to detiect said portion in opposite directions as it is advanced. i

5. A sole fiexing machine. having, in cornbination, two endless belts having a portion of their surfaces in contact and adapted to support a sole between them. means for ad vancin;lr nid belts and sole, a series of relis cooperating with the contacting portion of the belts a defiect said portion in opposite directions as it is advanced, and yielding belt tightening devices to permit the belts to accommodate themselves to the thickness of the sole supported between them..

6. A sole flexing machine, having, in con bination, two endless belts having a portion of their surfa'ces in contact and adapted to support a Asole between them. a series 0f rolls cooperating with the contacting portioii of the belts to deflect said portion in oppo site directions. and means for driving the rolls to cause the belts to fiex a sole supported between them.

7. A sole fiexing machine. having. in combination. two endless belts between which a sole is supported. and means cooperating with said belts for deflecting them alternately in opposite directions. so arranged that different portions of the sole are bent in opposite directions at the same time.

8. A sole flexing machine, having. in combination, means for bending a soie sharply and progressively in one direction to put the 'grain side of the sole under severe strain,

and means for bending the solel sharply and progressively in the opposite direction to put the tiesh side at the sole under similar strain progressively throughoutthe' length of the sole. 9. A sole flexing machine having. in com` 11. A sole flexing machine having. in combination. a tank containing a liquid. means for progressively flexing a sole while immersed in the liquid, and means for thereafter undulating the sole vihile thus moistened.

1Q. sole flexing machine. having. in combination. a plurality of sole moistening means. an intervening sharp-beinling mechanism, and means for progressing the sole fo" successive treatments by the aforesaid illtIlllS ill'ld lllflf'lllllllll.

lil. A\ sole flexing machine. having. in combination, rotary moisture applying mechanism arranged to simultaneously feed and bend a sole and apply moisture thereto, and a separate device for thereafter sharply flexing thc moistencd sole.

14. A sole flexing machine having. in combination. rotary moisture' applying mechanism arranged to Isimultaneously feed and bend a sole and 'apply moisture thereto. a separate device for thc fafter sharply flexing the moistened sole, and means to thereafter receive said flexed sole and saturate the same with moisture.

15. A sole flexing machine. having, in combination, rotary moisture applying mechanism arranged to simultaneously feed and bend a sole and apply moisture thereto, a separate device for thereafter sharply flexing the moistcncd sole, means to thereafter receive said lcxcd sole and saturate the same ith moisture, and means for finally removing the surplus moisture.

16. In a sole flexing machine, a preliminary moistening tank and mechanism for positively feeding a sole through said tank. and sharp bending mechanism for receiving the sole from said tank and subjecting the same to a sharp flexing and softening movement.

17. In a sole flexing machine, a tank for moistening solution, solo feeding mechanism therein for receiving. holding, stretching, and undulating a sole progressively in said tank in the presence of said solution, and adjustable means for regulating the height of the solution in the tank.

18. In a sole flexing machine, a tank for moistening solution. mechanism therein for receiving and undulating ay sole progressively in said tank in the presence of said solution, and means for regulatin the height of the solution in the tank, said un dulating mechanism including yielding moisture conveying rolls for simultaneously bending the leather and applying moisture to the bent surface.

19. ln a sole flexing machine, a tank for moistening solution, mechanism therein for receiving and undulating a sole progressively in said tank in the presence of said solution, and means for regulating the height of the solution in the tank, said undulating mcchamsni lncludmg a ser1es of yyielding moisture conveying rolls and intel'- vening feeding devices.

'20. ln a sole flexing machine. means for applying"r moisture to a sole. means for then sharply flexing the sole, and means for maintaining av continuous circulation of liquid for said moisture applying means.

21. A solo flexing machine, having, in combination. a tank to contain'.tempering liquid, sole flexing mechanism arranged to feed and bend a soie simultaneously while being conveyed into, through. and out of said tank, and mechanism thereafter to sharply bend said sole while continuing to feed the same.

'22. A sole flexing machine, having, in combination. a tank to contain tempering liquid. sole flexing mechanism arranged to feed and bend a sole simultaneously ivhile heilig conveyed into, through, and out of said tank, and mechanism thereafter to sharply bend said sole and thereafter to again convey and bend the sole and saturate thc same with liquid.

23. A sole flexing machine. having. in combination, moisture applying mechanism arranged to simultaneously feed and bcnd a sole, and additional means for thereafter flexing the moistcned sole.

2i. A sole flexing machine. having, in combination. moistur applying mechanism arranged to simultaneously feed a sole while bendingr different parts in opposite directions at the same time.

25. In a sole flexing machine. a tank to contain moistening solution, and means to feed and undulate a sole through said tank, said means comprising pairs of sole engagf ing devices arranged in staggered relation to each other.

26. ln a sole flexing machine a tank to contain moistcniug solution, means to feed and undulatc a sole through said tank. said means comprising pairs of' sole engaging devices arranged in staggered relation to cach other. and means for positively rotating said pairs of sole` engaging dcviccsin synchronism.

27. In a sole flexing machine. a tank to contain moistening solution, and means to feed and undulate a sole through said tank. sald lneans comprising pairs of sole engaging devices arranged in staggered relation to each other, one of each pair of said devices being yieldingly supported so as to permit successive soles of varying thickness to be acted upon to substantially the same extent.

28. A sole flexing machine having, in combination, mechanism to undulate and to meisten a sole simultaneously.

29. A sole flexing machine having, in combination, mechanism to uioisten, to convey, In testimony whereof, I have signed my and to undul tta. 'sole simultaneously. name to this specification, in the presence of 30. Asola Xing machine having mechatwo subscribing witnesses. nism tobend `and convey asole simultane- GEORGE BASLER. 5 ously during the aplication of tempering Witnesses:

Solution to said so e, in combination with Ro'r. H. SCHULZ, means to supply said tempering solution. R. G. HERSEY. 

